7AM : Swim in a historic indoor pool, such as the spectacular Stadtbad Neukölln, with its two pools, one decorated like a basilica, the other like a Roman atrium, which have remained almost unchanged since they opened, in 1914. Early bathing hours run from Tuesday to Friday.

9AM : Have breakfast at La Maison, Kreuzberg’s most popular bakery-café for night owls, specializing in French baked goods. Sunny terrace for weekend frühstücks.

10AM: Grab a quality coffee at the Kranzler, the famous red and white café on the Ku’damm now owned by well-known local roaster The Barn.

11AM : Dare to enter the Jünemann family’s shop to buy some warm slippers, particularly the Berlin-style yellow-and-brown plaid ones.

1PM : Do as the Berliners do – or as Inspector Gereon Rath, hero of Volker Kutscher’s thrillers, does – and munch on a frikadelle (meat patty), purchased in the KaDeWe food court.

3PM: Take in one of the exhibitions at the Martin-Gropius-Bau, which are always exciting and cleverly designed.

5PM: Look for a rare book or just browse the well-stocked shelves of Bücherbogen, the famous shop for art books under the arcades of the Savignyplatz S-Bahn station, as popular with ordinary Berliners as it is with collectors and tourists.

7PM: Sip champagne at Irma La Douce, a salon-boudoir ideally located amid galleries, concept stores, cocktail bars and restaurants not to be missed.

8PM: Head off to a concert of indie music at Silent Green Kulturquartier, a lively spot for music and creative events.

10PM : Have a Wiener Schnitzel for dinner at the Diener Tattersall, a legendary restaurant in the former East Berlin, near the charming Savigny Platz. It is possible to dine there from 6pm to 2am (it‘s hard to find another restaurant in the city that is open so late).